Hinged gathering sheet assembly for a corn header

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a hinged gathering sheet assembly for a corn header of the type having laterally adjustable row units that may be adjusted to harvest fields of corn of different row spacings. Each gathering sheet assembly includes a plurality of fore-and-aft spaced panel assemblies in which individual panels of each panel assembly are pivotally connected to a respective panel by a hinge type construction. The gathering sheet assembly is generally disposed between respective row units and because of the hinge construction of the panel assemblies comprising the gathering sheet assembly, the gathering sheet assembly may expand and contract in response to the lateral adjustment of the particular row unit.

United States Patent [1 1 Hyman et al.

[ Oct. 16, 1973 HINGED GATHERING SHEET ASSEMBLY FOR A CORN HEADER [75] Inventors: Myles Hyman; Ronald T. Sheehan;

Edward W. Rowland-Hill, all of Lancaster, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Sperry Rand Corporation, New

Holland, Pa.

[22] Filed: Sept. 13, 1972 [21] App]. No.: 288,853

[52] US. Cl 56/119, 56/105 [51] Int. Cl AOld 45/02 [58] Field of Search 56/105, 106, 119, 56/98 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,271,940 9/1966 Ashton et a]. 56/105 3,520,121 7/1970 Ashton et al. 56/106 Primary Examiner-Antonio F. Guida Att0meyJohn C. Thompson 5 7 ABSTRACT The present invention relates to a hinged gathering sheet assembly for a corn header of the type having laterally adjustable row units that may be adjusted to harvest fields of corn of different row spacings. Each gathering sheet assembly includes a plurality of foreand-aft spaced panel assemblies in which individual panels of each panel assembly are pivotally connected to a respective panel by a hinge type construction. The gathering sheet assembly is generally disposed between respective row units and because of the hinge construction of the panel assemblies comprising the gathering sheet assembly, the gathering sheet assembly may expand and contract in response to the lateral adjustment of the particular row unit.

13 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PATENTEU 1 61975 SHEET 30F 5 ,T SJST PAILNIED URI 1 61975 SHEET H11 5 PATENIED 1 film 3,765,157

SHEET 5 BF 5 HINGEI) GATHERINGSHEET ASSEMBLY FOR A CORN HEADER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to agricultural machincry, and more particularly to a gathering sheet assembly construction for acorn header.

Because of various farm practices in certain localities in certain geographical regions, itis not uncommon to find farmers who employ different row spacings for a particular crop, especially corn. To make corn headers universally acceptable to all such farmers who employ different row crop spacing for these particular crops, many farm machinery manufacturers have provided a corn header wherein the individual row units thereof are laterally adjustable to accommodate a range of row crop spacings.

Corn headers employ what is termed gathering sheet assemblies across respective row units of the corn header. These gathering sheet assemblies typically include a front converging panel assembly, sometimes referred to as a snout, which tends to divide the crop and direct the individual crop rows between adjacent row units. The gathering sheet assemblies further function to maintain the ears of corn in the general vicinity of the corn header and particularly guard against the corn ears bouncing from the corn header area where the ears would be lost in the harvesting operation.

As previously noted, the gathering sheet assemblies generally extend between or bridge respective row units. Thus, in a corn header wherein the row units are laterally adjustable and vary in width, some means must be provided within the gathering sheet assemblies to allow them to expand or contract in accordance with the adjustment of the individual row units. With reference to the prior art in this particular area, one is referred to U. S. Pat. No. 3,271,940 to R. Ashton, et al. Ashton et al suggests a gathering sheet assembly wherein individual panels thereof are provided with laterally extending slots and wherein the adjacent panel members include overlapping slots and are fastened together by a bolt assembly extending there through. Thus, to expand or contract the gathering sheet assemblies of Ashton et al one must first loosen the bolt assemblies and manually slide the panel members back and forth until the desired width is realized and then the bolt assemblies are fastened again. A somewhat similar reference is found in U. S. Pat. No. 3,520,121, again to R. Ashton et al. In this latter reference the individual panel members of the gathering sheet assemblies are provided with overlapping edges, and to adjust the width of the gathering sheet assembly the individual panel members may be moved laterally to yield the desired width.

Needless to say the adjustment of the gathering sheet assemblies in both of the Ashton et al references discussed above becomes a tedious, time consuming and difficult task. Such is especially true after the corn header has been exposed to weathering for a period of time and the surfaces of the sliding members have rusted and gathered other debris that tends to prohibit the free sliding thereof.

SUMMARY, OF THE INVENTION Applicants invention relates to an expandable and contractable gathering sheet assembly wherein the individual panels thereof are pivotally connected together by a hinge construction, whereby the entire gathering sheet assembly can be contracted and expanded without requiring the individual panel members to slide relative to each other. In particular, applicants disclose a gathering sheet assembly comprised of front, intermediate and rear multiple panel assemblies, with each panel assembly including a pair of inner panels connected along their inner edge by a central hinge, and a pair of outer panels of which is connected about one edge to the outer edge of a respective inner panel by an outer hinge. Therefore, it is appreciated that by adjusting the planar orientation of the inner panels, the total width of the individual multiple panel assembly is varied.

It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to provide a simple, reliable and easy to adjust gathering sheet assembly for a corn header of the type having laterally adjustable row units.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of an adjustable gathering sheet assembly that maintains a generally curved configuration irrespective of the particular adjustment made, whereby crop material dropping thereon tends to gravitate between adjacent row units and does not tend to bounce off the gathering sheet assembly.

More particularly, an object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable gathering sheet assembly for a corn header of the type which employs laterally adjustable row units wherein said gathering sheet assem bly includes front, intermediate and rear multiple panel assemblies, each multiple panel assembly including a pair of inner panels pivotally connected by a central hinge and a pair of outer panels each being connected to a respective inner panel by an outer hinge. These and other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which the preferred form of this invention is illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combine header having the hinged gathering sheet assembly of the present invention incorporated therein.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the hinged gathering sheet assembly.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the hingedgathering sheet assembly.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a row crop unit of the header with the gathering sheet assembly removed to more clearly illustrate the basic components of the row crop unit.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the hinged gathering sheet assembly of the present invention and particularly illustrates the relationship thereof with respect to the row unit structure of the header.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view showing a front pivot assembly of the hinged gathering sheet assembly.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of the pivot assembly shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of two adjacent row crop units which are bridged by the hinged gathering sheet assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a detailed plan view of the hinged gathering sheet assembly of the present invention.

FIG. is a side elevational view of the hinged gathering sheet assembly shown in FIG. 9.

FIGS. 11 and 12 are side elevational views of the reinforcing plate structure transversely disposed about the rear of the hinged gathering sheet assembly.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken through the lines l313 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken through the lines 14-14 of FIG. 10.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With further reference to the drawings, particularly FIG. 1, a combine header is shown therein and indicated generally by the numeral 10. Header 10 is of the type commonly referred to as a corn header in that it is designed to move through a field of corn and to harvest the individual ears of corn from the stalks. Viewing the header .10 generally, it will be observed that it basically comprises a rear housing structure 12 and a pair of generally forwardly projecting side members 14. Laterally spaced and likewise forwardly projecting from the header 10 is a series of gathering sheet assemblies 16. The three central gathering sheet assemblies 16 are disposed such that they extend between or bridge adjacent row units of the header 10. The individual row units are not particularly shown in FIG. 1 but for the sake ofa general discussion one row unit is illustrated in FIG. 4 and indicated generally by the numeral 18 therein. It might be pointed out that the detailed structure of the header 10 and the individual row units 18 associated therewith are not particularly disclosed herein as such is not material to the present invention. But for a more complete and unified understanding of combine headers especially of the corn type, one is referred to the prior art and particularly to the disclosures to R. Ashton et al. previously referred to in the Background of the Invention."

Viewing the row unit 18 of FIG. 4, it is comprised of a transmission housing 22 that includes a gear and drive network (not shown) for driving the various components of the row unit which will hereafter be described. Projecting forwardly from the transmission housing 22 in laterally spaced apart relationship is a pair of lower frame members 24 which generally form the forward most lower part of the header and which during operation tend to engage or lie close to the ground being traversed. Flanking the transmission housing 22 on each side thereof is a side panel 26 that extends therefrom to an adjacent side panel extending from an adjacent row unit. The row unit 18, as pointed out previously, is basically conventional in that it includes a pair of laterally spaced apart rotatably mounted snapping rolls 28 which engage the row of stalks and draw the stalks to the ground where the ears of corn carried thereby are snapped off as they engage a pair of shear bars 30. Disposed above the shear bar is a pair of gathering chains 32, each gathering chain being trained around a front frame member sprocket 34 and a rear transmission sprocket 36. Each front frame member sprocket 34 is rotatively mounted on a respective lower frame member 24 and there is provided adjacent thereto a tension adjusting mechanism 28 for bodily moving the front sprocket 34 and consequently adjusting the tension of the chain associated therewith.

Driving torque is provided for each row unit 18 and the moving components thereof, i.e., the snapping rolls 28 and gathering chains 32, by a main drive shaft 40 rotatively mounted behind each row unit and including a drive sprocket 42 fixed thereto and operative by means not shown to drive the transmission housed within transmission housing 22. The header 10 is of the type in which the individual row units 18 may be laterally adjusted along a transverse beam 20 by suitable securing means. In order to accommodate the lateral adjustment of any of the row units 18, it is necessary that the individual drive sprockets 42 likewise be adjustable axially along the main drive shaft 40.

As hereinbefore noted, each gathering sheet assembly 16 is adapted to extend between or bridge adjacent row units 18. Therefore, in adjusting the particular row spacing of the header 10 and consequently adjusting the row units 18 along the transverse beam 20, it follows that the width between adjacent row units will vary. To accommodate this variation in width between adjacent row units, the present hinged gathering sheet assembly is particularly adapted to vary in width in response to the adjustment of at least one row unit associated therewith.

Viewing the hinged gathering sheet assembly 16 of the present invention and with particular reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, it is seen that the gathering sheet assembly basically comprises a front, intermediate and rear panel assemblies indicated generally by the numeral 44, 46 and 48, respectively. As will become apparent from subsequent discussion, each of the just referred to panel assemblies includes a series of panels hingedly connected about certain edges thereof whereby the individual panel assembly may expand and contract and consequently vary in width between adjacent row units.

With reference to the front panel assembly 44, it is seen that this panel assembly basically comprises a pair of inner panels 52 pivotably connected about their inner edges by a central hinge construction including a hinge rod 56 that extends through alternate curled inner edges of the inner panels 52. The front panel assembly 44 further includes a pair of outer converging panels 54, each outer panel 54 being pivotably connected about an edge thereof to the outer edge of a respeetive inner panel 52 by a outer hinge construction 55.

Turning to the intermediate and rear panel assemblies 46, 48 respectively, it is seen that these two panel assemblies likewise include inner panels 58 and 60, respectively, with the inner edges of each pivotably connected together by a central hinge construction 62 similar to the aforementioned hinge construction of the front panel assembly 44. Also, the intermediate and rear panel assemblies 46 and 48, respectively, include outer panels 64 and 66, respectively, with the outer panels in each case being pivotably connected about one edge thereof to an outer edge of a respective inner panel by an outer hinge construction 68, the outer hinge construction being basically the same as that already alluded to in discussing the central hinge construction ofall three panel assemblies.

Disposed about the rear of the rear panel assembly 48 is a rear cover panel which covers the rear most area between the particular adjacent row units 18 involved.

With reference to FIGS. 11-14, it is seen that the individual panel assemblies include various types of reinforcing structure which function to reinforce the entire gathering sheet assembly involved and also act as means for adjusting and maintaining the adjustment of the gathering sheet assembly width. In this respect, it is seen that the rear panel assembly 48 includes a pair of transverse reinforcing plates 72 extending generally transversely between the inner panels 60 thereof. The reinforcing plates 72 include a plurality of openings 74 that are adapted to align with each other and to receive a bolt assembly 76 which acts to maintain the reinforcing plates 72 stationary relative to each other. FIG. 11 shows the rear panel assembly 48 in the narrow most position, while FIG. I2 shows the same panel assembly expanded and the bolt assembly inserted in appropriate openings in the reinforcing plates 72 to accomplish such. Also, it is seen from FIGS. 9 and that a pair of braces 78 which are fixed to the inner panel 58 of the intermediate panel assembly 46 extend therefrom to operatively connect with the rear panel assembly 48, thereby linking the rear panel assembly 48 with the intermediate panel assembly 46.

Referring to FIG. 13, the intermediate panel assembly 46 includes a triangular linkage network indicated generally by the numeral 80. The triangular linkage network generally includes a base link 82 including a pair of sliding members with openings in the inner ends thereof and connected together by a pair of bolt assemblies 86. Extending upwardly from each end of the base link 82 is a side link 84 with the upper ends thereof converging to an apex and connected thereat by a bolt assembly 82 which is supported by a brace 89 extending downwardly from a respective inner panel member 58.

With reference to FIG. 13, a front panel assembly inner support structure is shown therein and indicated generally by the numeral 90. The front panel assembly support structure 90 comprises a cross telescopic link 92 which includes a pair of generally overlapping links adjustably held together by a bolt assembly extending through an elongated slot formed in each. Secured to the cross link 92 is an intermediate link 96 which extends generally upwardly therefrom where it connects with an upper link of which is fixed to an inner panel 58. As particularly seen in FIG. 14, the intermediate link 96 includes a vertical elongated slot and includes a bolt assembly 95 extending therethrough and on through the upper link 94, thus adjustably securing the two together. I

The front panel assembly 44 is pivotably mounted about a transverse axis to the intermediate panel assembly 46 such that the front panel assembly may pivot up and down as the combine header I0 traverses uneven ground terrain. As is seen from FIGS. 6 and 7 a pivot assembly, indicated generally by the numeral 98,

is provided for pivotably mounting the front panel as sembly 44. Viewing the pivot assembly in detail, it is seen that it includes a yoke I00 fixed to the lower frame member 24 of each row unit 18. The yoke 100 includes an opening 101 therein and is particularly adapted to receive a sleeve 102 which carries an anchoring stud 106 which generally projects down through the opening 101 of the yoke and is held there by a cotter pin 108. The sleeve 102 is carried by the outer panels 64 of the intermediate panel assembly 46. The outer panels 54 of the front panel assembly 44 are pivotably secured to said sleeve 102 by a nut and bolt assembly 104 that projects through an arm 103 that joins the outer panels 54. The nut and bolt assembly 104 projects on through the sleeve 102 and is operative to pivotably mount the entire front panel assembly 44 to the intermediate panel assembly 46.

To install the gathering sheet assembly 16 between two adjacent row units 18, the entire unit is simply disposed across the adjacent row units 18 (FIG. 8) and preferably the row units include an anchoring rivet about each side thereof which is adapted to fit within a cutout or other similar attaching means carried by the gathering sheet assembly. In this particular embodiment, the attaching means is disposed along the inner side of the outer panel 64 of the intermediate panel assembly 46. Also, it should be pointed out that the rivet which is generally shown in FIG. 2 and indicated thereat by the numeral 110 can preferably be adapted just to receive and hold the securing means of the gathering sheet assembly such that the entire gathering sheet assembly may be installed and removed without requiring a great deal of effort and numerous types of tools.

The outer panels 64 of the intermediate panel assembly 46 and the outer panels 66 of the rear panel assembly 48 are welded together or otherwise secured together by other suitable means. Also, it is seen that the pivot assembly indicated generally by the numeral 98 is FIGS. 6 and 7 serves to connect the respective outer panels of the front and intermediate panel assemblies 44, 46, respectively.

Therefore, it follows that since the gathering sheet assembly is held to individual row units by the rivet shown in FIG. 3 and because all three panel assemblies 44, 46 and 48 are linked together, that the lateral adjustment of a lower frame member 24 of any row unit results in the outer panels 54, 64 and 66 being constrained to move with the lower frame member. As the lower frame member 24 and the associated outer panels 54, 64 and 66 move laterally, it follows that the inner panels are free to move and pivot about the various hinge constructions involved. It should be pointed out that prior to adjusting the row spacing between the individual row units 18 of the header 10 that it becomes necessary to loosen the various bolts associated with the reinforcing structures disposed underneath the gathering sheet assemblies 16.

Thus it is seen that the present invention provides a gathering sheet assembly of the type which is generally disposed between adjacent laterally adjustable row units and which is provided with a compound hinge panel assembly construction which allows the total gathering sheet assembly to contract and expand in response to the lateral adjustment of at least one row unit associated therewith.

The terms upper, lower, forward, rearward," inner," outer, etc., have been used herein merely for the convenience of the foregoing specifica- -tion and in the appended claims to describe the hinged gathering sheet assembly for a corn header and its parts as oriented in the drawings. It is to be understood, however, that these terms are in no way limiting to the invention since the hinged gathering sheet assembly for a corn header may obviously be disposed in many different positions when in actual use.

The present invention, of course, may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range are intended to be embraced herein.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim 1. ln a row crop harvesting header of the type having a plurality of row units, each row unit including means therein for harvesting crop material of each row; and means for laterally adjusting and consequently varying the width of at least one of said row units such that said header may harvest crops of different row spacing, the improvement comprising an expandable and contractable gathering sheet assembly operatively associated and extending between two adjacent row units at least one of which is laterally adjustable, said gathering sheet assembly comprising a series of panel members, and hinge connecting means interconnecting respective panel members such that said gathering sheet assembly may expand or contract in response to the lateral adjustment of said two row units.

2. In a row crop harvesting header having a plurality of row units, each row unit having means associated therewith for cooperating with an adjacent row unit to harvest a row of crop material, and means for laterally adjusting, at least one row unit such that the row spacing between said adjustable row unit and an adjacent row unit may be varied for harvesting fields of crop material having different row spacing; the improvement comprising a self-adjusting gathering sheet assembly operatively associated and extending between two row units, at last one of which is adjustable, said gathering sheet assembly including a multiple panel assembly comprising: a pair of inner panel members; central hinge connecting means pivotally interconnecting said inner panel members; a pair of outer panel members each disposed on a respective side of said inner panel members; and an outer hinge connecting means pivotally interconnecting each outer panel member with a respective inner panel member, whereby said multiple panel assembly may readily expand and contract in response to the adjustment of the unit thereunder.

3. A row crop harvesting header, as recited in claim 3, wherein means are provided for fixing said outer panel members relative to the respective row unit, whereby said inner panel members move relative to said outer panel members in response to the lateral adjustment of the row unit.

4. A row crop harvesting header, as recited in claim 2, wherein said gathering sheet assembly includes a plurality of similarly comprised multiple panel assemblies, said panel assemblies being fore-and-aft spaced and disposed in generally longitudinal alignment.

5. A row crop harvesting header, as recited in claim 2, wherein said multiple panel assembly includes an adjustable inner linkage structure for supporting said panel assembly.

6. In a corn header of the type having a plurality of row units, at least one row unit including snapping rolls, gathering chains, and means for laterally adjusting at least one of said row units in order to vary the row spacing between two respective row units the improvement comprising a laterally adjustable gathering sheet assembly operatively associated and extending between two respective row units at least one of which is laterally adjustable, said gathering assembly including a plurality for-and-aft spaced multiple panel assemblies, each panel assembly comprising: a pair of inner panel members; central hinge connecting means pivotally interconnecting said inner panel members; a pair of outer panel members each disposed about a respective side of said inner panel members; an outer hinge connecting means pivotally connecting each other panel member with a respective inner panel member.

7. A corn header, as recited in claim 6, wherein said plurality of multiple panel assemblies include front, intermediate and rear multiple panel assemblies.

8. A corn header, as recited in claim 7, wherein said outer hinge connecting means of said front multiple panel assembly are disposed in forward converging relationship such that the entire front multiple panel assembly becomes wider towards the rear thereof.

9. A com header, as recited in claim 8, wherein said front multiple panel assembly is pivotally mounted about a transverse axis relative to said row unit, whereby said front multiple panel assembly may float over the ground terrain being traversed.

10. A corn header, as recited in claim 7, wherein at least one of said multiple panel assemblies includes an adjustable inner support linkage for generally supporting that particular multiple panel assembly and providing for lateral adjustment thereof.

1]. A corn header, as recited in claim 10, wherein said inner support linkage comprises an adjustable triangular linkage network including a pair of generally vertical side links interconnected at an apex, and a telescopic adjustable base link interconnected between said side links and operative to expand or contract the multiple panel assembly associated therewith.

12. A corn header, as recited in claim 7, wherein one of said multiple panel assemblies includes an inner support linkage comprised of a pair of reinforcing plates each disposed on respective sides of the particular panel assembly and including overlapping portions provided with a series of spaced apart apertures that are adapted to receive securing means therein.

13. A corn header, as recited in claim 10, wherein said adjustable inner support linkage includes a telescopic link extending transversely between said multiple panel assembly and operative to be adjusted to assume various lengths in order that the multiple panel assembly associated therewith may be varied in width. 

1. In a row crop harvesting header of the type having a plurality of row units, each row unit including means therein for harvesting crop material of each row; and means for laterally adjusting and consequently varying the width of at least one of said row units such that said header may harvest crops of different row spacing, the improvement comprising an expandable and contractable gathering sheet assembly operatively associated and extending between two adjacent row units at least one of which is laterally adjustable, said gathering sheet assembly comprising a series of panel members, and hinge connecting means interconnecting respective panel members such that said gathering sheet assembly may expand or contract in response to the lateral adjustment of said two row units.
 2. In a row crop harvesting header having a plurality of row units, each row unit having means associated therewith for cooperating with an adjacent row unit to harvest a row of crop material, and means for laterally adjusting, at least one row unit such that the row spacing between said adjustable row unit and an adjacent row unit may be varied for harvesting fields of crop material having different row spacing; the improvement comprising a self-adjusting gathering sheet assembly operatively associated and extending between two row units, at least one of which is adjustable, said gathering sheet assembly including a multiple panel assembly comprising: a pair of inner panel members; central hinge connecting means pivotally interconnecting said inner panel members; a pair of outer panel members each disposed on a respective side of said inner panel members; and an outer hinge connecting means pivotally interconnecting each outer panel member with a respective inner panel member, whereby said multiple panel assembly may readily expand and contract in response to the adjustment of the unit thereunder.
 3. A row crop harvesting header, as recited in claim 3, wherein means are provided for fixing said outer panel members relative to the respective row unit, whereby said inner panel members move relative to said outer panel members in response to the lateral adjustment of the row unit.
 4. A row crop harvesting header, as recited in claim 2, wherein said gathering sheet assembly includes a plurality of similarly compRised multiple panel assemblies, said panel assemblies being fore-and-aft spaced and disposed in generally longitudinal alignment.
 5. A row crop harvesting header, as recited in claim 2, wherein said multiple panel assembly includes an adjustable inner linkage structure for supporting said panel assembly.
 6. In a corn header of the type having a plurality of row units, at least one row unit including snapping rolls, gathering chains, and means for laterally adjusting at least one of said row units in order to vary the row spacing between two respective row units the improvement comprising a laterally adjustable gathering sheet assembly operatively associated and extending between two respective row units at least one of which is laterally adjustable, said gathering assembly including a plurality for-and-aft spaced multiple panel assemblies, each panel assembly comprising: a pair of inner panel members; central hinge connecting means pivotally interconnecting said inner panel members; a pair of outer panel members each disposed about a respective side of said inner panel members; an outer hinge connecting means pivotally connecting each other panel member with a respective inner panel member.
 7. A corn header, as recited in claim 6, wherein said plurality of multiple panel assemblies include front, intermediate and rear multiple panel assemblies.
 8. A corn header, as recited in claim 7, wherein said outer hinge connecting means of said front multiple panel assembly are disposed in forward converging relationship such that the entire front multiple panel assembly becomes wider towards the rear thereof.
 9. A corn header, as recited in claim 8, wherein said front multiple panel assembly is pivotally mounted about a transverse axis relative to said row unit, whereby said front multiple panel assembly may float over the ground terrain being traversed.
 10. A corn header, as recited in claim 7, wherein at least one of said multiple panel assemblies includes an adjustable inner support linkage for generally supporting that particular multiple panel assembly and providing for lateral adjustment thereof.
 11. A corn header, as recited in claim 10, wherein said inner support linkage comprises an adjustable triangular linkage network including a pair of generally vertical side links interconnected at an apex, and a telescopic adjustable base link interconnected between said side links and operative to expand or contract the multiple panel assembly associated therewith.
 12. A corn header, as recited in claim 7, wherein one of said multiple panel assemblies includes an inner support linkage comprised of a pair of reinforcing plates each disposed on respective sides of the particular panel assembly and including overlapping portions provided with a series of spaced apart apertures that are adapted to receive securing means therein.
 13. A corn header, as recited in claim 10, wherein said adjustable inner support linkage includes a telescopic link extending transversely between said multiple panel assembly and operative to be adjusted to assume various lengths in order that the multiple panel assembly associated therewith may be varied in width. 